Sliding doors are a great way to add extra storage space in your home while still maintaining a sleek look.
Due to the impact this door type is having on the industry there is a greater product range and application that you can install. That is just part of it and the most obvious question is how to install a sliding door mortice lock?
Well let’s go through a number of topics related to this first.
Type of sliding door mortice lock I need?
There are several sliding door mortice locks on the market today so first you need to decide on the application of your sliding door. For the purposes of this article we will only be referring to wooden sliding doors.
If you’re looking for an external sliding door solution, then our sliding door mortice lock has everything you will need.
This sliding door mortice lock is a 60mm back set with a body of 86mm. If your sliding door has glass inside 100mm from the edge of the door we don’t recommend using this lock. You may require a smaller body size. Please give us a call if you’re unsure or get in touch with a professional.
The other measurement to check to make sure this is the right application is the thickness of the door. This lock is suitable for doors with a thickness of 35mm and up.
A privacy sliding door has plenty of options as well and our award-winning Pendulum sliding door kit is the perfect solution for doors 36mm and thicker. We will be talking about these in another post in the future.
Tools required to install a sliding door mortice lock
If you’re installing a new sliding door, you will need a few different tools. You will need a drill with required drill bits/spade bit (see below for the Architectural Choice lock), screwdriver, Stanley knife, hammer, chisel, level, tape measure, pencil, and tape (for sticking drill template to door).
Door furniture for sliding door mortice locks
The reason we always recommend the Architectural Choice sliding door lock is its versatility when adding the furniture to the door.
The lock body has holes ready for installation of the euro escutcheons through fixing or you can also utilise the privacy adaptor to fit a spindle hole instead.
That is standard for our sliding mortice locks, giving you peace of mind when selecting other elements for your project as all will fit seamlessly with one another.
Where the true beauty of this sliding door mortice lock comes is that it’s perfect for pull handles and flush pulls due to the small height of the lock body. This means you can effectively put pull handles/flush pulls on almost any height you wish.
This unlocks your options immensely depending on what you a) want on your door and b) can fit on your door.
You might want a flush pull on one side and an elegant pull handle on the other. This is perfect for the Architectural Choice sliding door mortice lock and realistically the options are endless.
Talk to one of our team members about your specific requirements today to get some ideas.
Steps to install a sliding door mortice lock
Installing a sliding door mortice lock can be done in 11 steps. We have logged them below and this will be sent out with your order as well to make it simple on site.
- Please double check the drill template (pictured below - this is only an example DO NOT use this photo) is the correct one for your lock & check that it is printed to scale with a ruler. Do not proceed without measurements lining up.
- On the edge of your door, mark a centre line at the desired height.
- On the template, line up the centre with your centre line on door edge.
- Drill overlapping holes shown on drill template.
- If required, tidy up holes with a chisel.
- Insert the lock into the hole and score around the faceplate.
- After removing lock, neatly chisel out the scored area to the thickness of the faceplate (faceplate must sit flush with the door edge).
- Fix template to the door. Drill holes for the euro cylinder. To prevent damage to the door face, do not drill holes right through. Drill from either side and meet in the middle.
- Insert the lock again, and then insert euro cylinder through the lock body and fix with the appropriately sized cylinder screw provided.
- Drill 2 x 2mm pilot holes for the lock faceplate screws. Screw the faceplate and lock to the door edge.
- Mark out the door frame for the striker and mortice to correct depth and then screw the striker plate to the door frame.
Use A Professional
If you’re not comfortable with power tools, or you’re not confident of being able to install a mortice lock we always recommend hiring a professional installer. It’s often cheaper than buying a new door and installing it yourself.
If you would like to talk with the team about your requirements call 0456 621 224 or email info@architecturalchoice.com.
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